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Published on: March 24, 2023
GENICULAR NERVE ABLATION IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS: A RANDOMIZED PROSPECTIVE STUDY
João Vital Arthur Maradona Oliveira Dias1, Vitor Ricardo Alves Pereira de Moraes1, Matheus Trindade Bruxelas de Freitas1
1Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clinicas, Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Objective:
To document the effects of genicular nerve ablation in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis (OAJ) at 1 and 3 months.
Methods:
Prospective, randomized, and controlled trial with 35 patients with grade IV knee osteoarthritis according to Kelgren & Lawrence, undergoing genicular nerve ablation with pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) or phenol. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the 30-Second Chair Stand Test (TSL30), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
Results:
The groups were similar at baseline. Both groups improved similarly up to 3 months (p<0.001). NRS decreased by an average of 30% from baseline to all subsequent assessments (p<0.05). TUG decreased between baseline and one month post-procedure (p=0.001), while TSL30 increased from baseline to one and three months (p<0.05). The average behavior of patients was equal between groups over the evaluations for all scores (p Interaction > 0.05). None of the scores differed between groups, regardless of the evaluation period (p Group > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Genicular nerve ablation in patients with severe OAJ can provide lasting improvements in pain, function, and quality of life. Both methods, phenol and radiofrequency, are effective. Level of Evidence I; Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial .
